The ongoing battle for the Vhavenda kingship throne is expected to resume on Monday morning at the high court in Polokwane, Limpopo.

A senior traditional leader, Nndweleni Mashamba of Mashamba Traditional Council, will be back at the witness stand. Last week, when the court adjourned, Mashamba told the court that a sitting king cannot identify his successor.

In June 2024, a witness testifying on the side of Masindi Mphephu, Takalani Rakgogo, told the court that the late king Patrick Mphephu selected a dzekiso wife for the applicant’s Princess Masindi Mphephu’s father, King Dimbanyika Mphephu.

Princess Masindi is challenging her father’s younger brother and uncle, former King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, to ascend the throne.

A member of the Vhavenda royal family and defence witness in the court battle for the throne is expected to continue on the witness stand in the High Court in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Thursday. https://t.co/VBxOt7X78U pic.twitter.com/5JTLp3S1lK

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 25, 2025

Giving testimony in evidence, defence witness, Mashamba, who is also a former member of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, told the court that the executive council did not take sides during the chieftaincy dispute resolution processes. He said that he is not biased towards Prince Toni Mphephu Ramabulana in the ongoing battle for the Vhavenda kingship throne.

The throne battle has been ongoing since 2012.

VIDEO | Traditional leader denies bias in kingship case